A PRE-TEEN tearaway who terrorised a York neighbourhood with a stolen six-tonne dumper truck has been banned from driving until he is 17 - the age at which he will first be able to legally drive.

The 12-year-old from Tang Hall was seen standing on the £10,000 machine's seat as he took a friend for an out-of-control ride down Constantine Avenue after snatching it from a Hull Road building site.

The next day he flattened two lamp posts in Tang Hall before jumping off the moving vehicle when police arrived, leaving the dumper to career into a ditch, narrowly missing a man walking his dog.

At York Youth Court the boy, who was banned from driving last September after taking a vehicle without consent, admitted 15 offences between February 13 and May 1.

These included throwing a brick at a court witness in front of her six-year-old son, making obscene gestures at a police patrol and assaulting a police officer at Fulford Road Police Station.

Magistrate Helen McBride told the youngster that, although he has an interest in vehicles, he must wait until he is older to explore it.

As well as the driving ban, she ordered the 12-year-old to complete a three-month "action plan" managed by the York Youth Offending Team, and said if he offended again he may go to prison.

She said: "You have caused serious concern to the community and also put yourself and others at serious risk of harm through your recklessness.

"The court will not tolerate this behaviour to the community, especially your lack of respect for the law."

The court heard how a string of offences began on February 12 when the boy stole a Rover car belonging to the father of a friend and drove it through Tang Hall.

Jane Cook, prosecuting, said a month later the youth took a dumper truck. When arrested he was found to have tools for theft in his pocket.

In the following weeks he admitted causing £300 damage to a moped, smashing the window of a resident, attacking a witness, kicking a police officer and attempting to damage another moped.

Victoria Latham, mitigating, said the boy had low self-esteem and was bullied by older boys. She said he may go to a boarding school in September.

Updated: 10:44 Wednesday, May 19, 2004